Juan José Arreola's literary creations are the result of the enjoyable and playful activity of the artisan. His concept of literature and his works have served as a canon in the training of new writers, a task to which Arreola has dedicated a great part of his career. His creative diversity is based on his unusual artistic abilities and an emphasis on the use of and play with language. Added to Arreola's literary capacity are his mimetic ability, a good ear, and an extraordinary memory, which enable him to capture phrases, fragments, entire texts, and different styles; these he reproduces and transforms in his works. His love of literature, his concern with writing, the appreciation of words--both spoken and written--the pleasure of acting, and his appraisal of different skills and occupations have created an oeuvre characterized by its briefness while maintaining diversity and a capacity for innumerable...